A lot of things have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and construction and design are no exception.  Here are three ways that design trends have changed in 2020.

 

Open Floor Plans are Off the Table

 

We all thought that open floor plans were here to stay.  When the pandemic hit, however, most Americans became confined to their homes – and that means work, school, exercise and more now take place in the same space.  For most homeowners, an open floor plan is simply impractical.  Imagine trying to do a Zoom meeting with your co-workers with your kids and dogs playing in the background.  There’s only so much you can do with partitions and backdrops.

While homeowners still love an open floor plan in the kitchen and living areas, dedicated spaces are now a must when it comes to a home renovation.  Floor plans now involve home offices, exercise rooms and homeschool spaces.  Homeowners aren’t skimping when it comes to interior design, either.  After all, home is now where we spend the majority of our time.  That leads us to our second point…

 

Home Décor is In High Demand

 

Anyone in the home goods industry will tell you that orders have hit unprecedented levels.  It seems that homeowners are finding their joy in creating beautiful spaces (we love hearing that)!  Here are some ways people are getting creative at home:

• With beautiful wallpaper from places like York Wallcoverings;
• Changing out flooring or backsplash using tile from our FAVORITE online store, Tilebar;
• Adding custom details such as wainscot, shiplap or crown molding;
• Painting the interior or exterior of their home (bold colors such as accent walls are totally in);
• Giving kitchen cabinets a facelift, either with a new paint job or changing out the doors.

If you are one of the lucky people who has found happiness in re-designing your home – we get you!  It’s our happy place, too.

 

Indoor-Outdoor Living is Where It’s At

 

Most people would go mad being stuck inside all day.  That’s why outdoor spaces are so important in 2020.  Not just decks and patios, but landscaping.  Believe it or not, one of the most popular activities in 2020 is edible landscaping – in other words, growing your own food.  More and more homeowners are discovering the joy of growing things on their own land, whether small or large, and harvesting the fruits of their labor in true farm-to-fork fashion.

Just like interior design, edible landscaping should include space planning, taking into consideration location, colors, textures, as well as the practicality of what you want to grow.  Homeowners should measure and plan their gardens just like they would the rooms in their home.  Here are a few tips when planning your home garden:

• Perennials should make up most of your landscape. Perennials are plants that come back year after year, so they require very little maintenance, aside from watering and fertilizing them.  Most fruit trees are perennials.  (If you are in Florida, you will love the abundance of exotic fruits you can grow!)
• Be sure to plant native trees and flowers. These will thrive in your area, have fewer pest problems, and will require very little maintenance in general.
• Think ahead with plant growth. Be sure to plant trees and large bushes with enough girth, and research trees that have wide root systems so that they don’t interfere with the foundation of your home.
• Having a thriving garden means having the right soil. Successful gardeners “feed” their soil and focus on life underground, which results in beautiful, abundant plant life that will make your home the most beautiful in the neighborhood.

2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, but all things contain a silver lining, and for us it has been wonderful to see so many people find joy in designing and remodeling their homes. 

 

 

 

Nelson Construction and Renovations, a family business founded in 2006, is a design-build company that specializes in high-end remodels, home additions, and custom homes. With our headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, we serve homeowners all over Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. We are an award-winning member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.  

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